Ahead of a large planned protest outside the EMW Women’s Surgical Center downtown, the Metro Council will continue debating the creation of a buffer zone that would block protesters from coming into close contact with women entering for abortions and their escorts.

Other cities such as Chicago, Portland, San Francisco and Phoenix have buffer zones, which usually include an 8-to-15-foot zone protesters are barred from entering. Three cities have bubble zones, which include several feet of space around a clinic patient, provider or escort walking patients inside.

Robin Engel, head of the council’s Republican caucus, said he doesn’t think there’s a need for a buffer zone.

“What people are doing is peacefully counseling young ladies on other options than abortion,” Engel said.

On May 13, however, 10 demonstrators were arrested by Louisville Metro Police after blocking the entrance to the EMW Center. Engel said that’s not the norm, and he plans to fight any buffer zone legislation.

“I do not see the danger, this is one incident that happened and it’s being blown out of proportion,” Engel said.

Many of those arrested came from the far-right religious group Operation Save America, previously known as Operation Rescue. The fundamentalist group protested abortion outside Louisville high schools earlier this year. It also met privately with Gov. Matt Bevin.

Vicki Saporta said the arrests outside EMW in May were a test for the large amount of people coming to Louisville to protest in late July. Saporta is with the National Abortion Federation, a professional association of abortion clinics that includes the EMW Center.

“We’ve learned that law enforcement response to criminal activities taking place outside clinics is essential, and it makes a huge difference whether lower activities escalate into the kind of arsons, bombing and murders that we’ve too often seen,” Saporta said.

EMW Center staff testified before the Metro Council earlier this week, saying tensions have risen outside the clinic recently.

The sidewalk outside EMW is city property, so abortion protesters routinely set up with images of fetuses and yell at women, in addition to distributing pamphlets on other options besides abortion. Saporta said a buffer zone could make it easier for local law enforcement to enforce federal law.

“Buffer zones with a clear painted line on the ground are easier for police to enforce and are clearer for demonstrators, facility staff and patients, where protests are allowed and where they’re not, and leave enough room to safely enter and exit the clinic,” Saporta said.

Metro Council members haven’t drafted legislation yet, and earlier this week, they said to expect more hearings on the issue. If city lawmakers do create a buffer zone, it could still be challenged in court.

The city of Pittsburgh is currently being sued for its buffer and bubble laws, which include 15-feet around the clinic and 8-feet around individuals entering and exiting.

Elizabeth Nash, a policy analyst covering state issues at reproductive health research group the Guttmacher Institute, said the EMW Center needs a buffer zone — particularly because as the last abortion clinic in Kentucky, it is a bigger target for protesters.

“When you are attempting to enter a building and there are a group of people who are standing there, in opposition to the decision you have made, that can be intimidating,” Nash said. “You don’t need to be shouting to be intimidating.”

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A federal judge sounded skeptical of a new Indiana abortion law Tuesday while hearing a request to block parts of the law that will make it tougher for girls under age 18 to get an abortion without their parents' knowledge.

U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker heard arguments on a preliminary injunction being sought by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.

The groups sued Indiana officials on May 18, seeking to block some provisions of the new law, and saying they would create "an unconstitutional undue burden on unemancipated minors."

A judge has signed an order to keep Kentucky’s last abortion clinic open until a lawsuit aimed at preventing its closure is resolved.

U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers issued a preliminary injunction to keep EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville open pending the suit’s outcome. Stivers previously issued a restraining order to prevent the state from revoking EMW’s license.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Brigitte Amiri praised the judge’s action Monday but said doctors shouldn’t have to go to court to ensure they can provide care.

Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration agreed to renew EMW’s license until the lawsuit is resolved. The state told the clinic it was out of compliance with laws related to its agreements with a hospital and ambulance service.

Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration has dropped its efforts to shut down Kentucky’s last abortion clinic pending the outcome of a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing its closure.

An agreement between lawyers for the Republican governor and the Louisville clinic, EMW Women’s Surgical Center, has been submitted to U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers, who has not yet signed off on it.

As part of the agreement, Bevin’s administration agreed to renew EMW’s license until the federal suit is resolved.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill into law creating a mandatory waiting period before getting an abortion in Tennessee.

Under the new law signed Monday, women would need to wait at least 48 hours before undergoing the procedure. The House approved the measure on a 79-18 vote, while the Senate passed its version 24-2.

The governor previously signed into law another bill that requires facilities or physician offices to be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers if they perform more than 50 abortions in a year.

The legislation came after voters in November approved a constitutional amendment giving state lawmakers more power to regulate abortions. The ballot measure overturned a 2000 Supreme Court ruling that had thrown out laws imposing similar restrictions.